Haverfordwest abuser jailed for four-hour attack spree

A domestic abuser who pursued and repeatedly attacked his partner over four hours has been jailed for 16 months. ⚖️

Michael Simms, 43, of Barn Court in Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three offences of assault by beating, and stalking involving fear of violence at Swansea Crown Court.

Prosecutor Regan Walters told the court that police received nearly 30 reports of domestic violence against Simms within a 12-month period, although none resulted in further action being taken.

On August 24, Simms showed up unannounced at a friend’s house in Haverfordwest where his partner was staying. When he returned with cigarettes and alcohol, he took a lit cigarette from his partner and forced it into her cheek whilst still burning.

He then followed her home, using his foot to stop her shutting her front door and punching her in the face. When she escaped to a neighbour’s home to call police, the neighbour noticed a burn mark on her face and swelling around her eye. Simms punched her twice more to the head after she refused to give him a cigarette.

Police arrived at 9.42pm and noted she had a cut on her cheek and swelling around her left eye. When Simms returned 20 minutes later, he denied assaulting his partner and told officers his “life was in danger” from her.

The court heard Simms had 44 previous convictions for 69 offences, including battery in October 2013 when he assaulted a previous partner who was pregnant with his child.

Emily Bennett, in mitigation, said: “This defendant’s last offence was some time ago. Over the last five years this defendant has had, in his experience, a fairly significant period without offending. This is his first time in prison for some 10 years. It has been a sharp shock for him.”

Simms had been made subject to a domestic violence protection order on August 14 following reports of a domestic disturbance at his partner’s address.

Judge Catherine Richards jailed Simms for 16 months.